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Original poster

Keeping our hair on! Hair loss support thread!

240 replies

coffeecake · 10/10/2012 20:38

Hi, as promised and based on a few Mumsnetters expressing a desire of a support thread for hair loss, here it is!
Feel free to ask any questions, share your experiences etc...

OP posts:
WildThongyoumakemyringsting · 24/10/2012 23:04

Common sense from a fellow shedder!
Good spot coffee

For info, I was told that gentle shiatzu massage can also help balance and stimulate the scalp and hair follicle.
Im continuing on the iron and multi vitamin with paraben free shampoo and conditioner for the next few months and will report back on that too.

MoomieAndFreddie · 25/10/2012 09:02

has anyone tried Nioxin shampoo?

Original poster
coffeecake · 25/10/2012 12:56

No I haven't tried that. Does it work?
I have a dermatologist appointment later and I'm scared of the verdict. I feel as though I am going to a really important interview.

OP posts:
Conflugenglugen · 25/10/2012 13:02

I was diagnosed with female pattern baldness just under two years ago - after popping iron pills, hair-grow formula, and generally wanting to dive headlong into denial.

Philip Kingsley did the diagnosis, ran some blood tests, and I was put on a course of hormone drops, which I have to apply daily. It is pricy, however ...

After half a year, I started to notice regrowth, and now, after nearly two years, one of the technicians there showed me all the regrowth coming in (I cried), and I have a full head of hair. It's not as thick as it could have been had I gone earlier. It is never going to be luxuriantly thick. But no baldness.

So there is hope if you have fpb. Outlay is about £55 per month, and consultations/blood work is a further £500 or so, spread over a year and a half period. As I said, not cheap, but it is an option for some.

Original poster
coffeecake · 25/10/2012 13:30

Hi Conflu that's sounds promising. I thought that there was no way back from fpb. It's so expensive though isn't it?
Another mumsnetter said that she had that too and went to Philip Kingsley and hasn't really seen much result. Shame really after paying so much money.

OP posts:
Conflugenglugen · 25/10/2012 13:39

It might be the same mumsnetter I know about, coffecake. If so, I've said to hang in there a bit longer: I only saw an appreciable difference well after a year, although regrowth started before then - little whispers of hairs.

But for me, it has worked.

Yeah - prohibitively expensive for most, I would say. For me, it was a matter of weighing up whether I wanted to make the financial sacrifice, or being able to see my scalp clearly through my hair. I chose the former - even if my bank balance suffered as a result.

Sheila · 25/10/2012 20:58

I have been to Philip Kingsley and am three weeks into using the 3m drops. The initial consultation ended up costing me nearly £400 - I used my savings to fund it! Some of the expense was cosmetic products that with hindsight I don't think were necessary (Maximiser etc) or any better than high street alternatives, plus a 'treatment' session where they show you how to apply the drops. I was there for two hours. The woman I saw was really nice and it was refreshing to be taken seriously after being treated like a neurotic by my GP, but the jury is still out on whether it has been worth it. It's good to hear a positive story from you Conflu.

I find using the drops quite difficult- fiddly and a constant reminder of my worries about my hair. Sometimes I can forget about it during the day, but then I have to part my hair in front of the mirror to apply the drops, staring the the problem in the face just before bed. I can't believe I've only been doing it for three weeks - it feels like months.

I really wish I could just accept my condition and get on with life but I can't. My GP said the thinning may not get any worse, but the evidence of my own eyes tells me she's wrong.

I'd love to know how you got on with the Derm Coffee - come back and tell us, won't you? Sxx

Sheila · 25/10/2012 21:02

Sophysinclair - can I ask how much the Lucind Ellery extensions were, and are they realistic? This is my fall-back option when all else fails - should I start saving now?!

Conflugenglugen · 25/10/2012 21:18

Sheila - you get used to doing the drops. Can do them with my eyes shut now, and no more need to part my hair - I use the dropper itself as a parting device. It will become second nature if you keep it up, and your feelings about it will decrease if you see hair starting to come in. Strength!

Sheila · 25/10/2012 21:32

Thanks for your kind words Conflu - I'm really glad for you that your hair is coming back - it must've been a fantastic moment when you realised. How long was it before you noticed any regrowth? I have little hairs but think this is just the process of miniaturisation, i.e. big hairs growing back finer.

Unfortunately butterfingers here dropped the dropper on the floor and it smashed!! Now I use a makeup brush to brush the drops on - works quite well actually.

Shame I didn't smash the magnifying mirror that shows me my balding scalp in great detail every night. [hsad]

SophySinclair · 26/10/2012 00:46

Sheila - they look as real as my own hair and you would never know it wasn't my own hair. Exactly like you they were my fall back option. I lost my Dad a few weeks ago and was facing another big shed with the stress and I had had enough. Lucinda Ellery was my all-else-fails plan!!!

I've had them in a week and it's really odd looking at myself in the mirror with volumey hair. I am having a delayed emotional reaction to the previously sad-haired me. I am a nutter though

Price wise - initial consultation £55. They go through the different options with you, different products for different problems. My hair loss wasn't noticable on the scalp so a mesh wasn't suitable. I've had 50 extensions, cut into a thickish bob and total cost was 300 ish. They need to be refixed every three- four months so I'm looking at a 100+ saving towards them. I have a saving jar just for my hair extensions. For me, totally worth it for the joy of not wanting to burst into tears when I looked in the mirror.

SophySinclair · 26/10/2012 00:51

actually the hardest part this week has been the realisation that I have no clue how to style hair. Not a clue. So long since I needed to.

Original poster
coffeecake · 26/10/2012 11:14

Hi everyone I saw the Derm yesterday (actually it's a GP that specialises in dermatology so I don't know if she is actually qualified).
she saw the regrowth at the front (little hairs sprouting out from my hairline level) so she made the conclusion that my hair was actually growing back and that I probably lost a lot of it over the past six months and now the shedding has slowed down.
I also realised when she looked at my blood test results that they hadn't done the ferritin levels so she booked me in for some more blood tests, and prescribed some iron tablets as she said it is very rare if a woman's ferritin levels are as high as 70 and that this amount is needed for healthy hair growth (at least she knew that much).
Sheila did the PK consultant tell you that it was definately FPHL?
Did you have your ferritin levels checked and were you put on a course of iron tablets and gave them time to work before consulting PK?
I too see little hairs all over my scalp but I too can't help thinking that they are new finer hairs growing rather than proper regrowth( although the new hair by my hair line are quite thick).
The GP looked at me and said "Anyway you have lovely thick hair, so I don't think it is Androgenetic Alopecia". But I said to her "Yes but I used to have 50% more hair than this".
Anyway, before I take the PK route (obcenely expensive) I am going to take supplements with extra iron in, and see what happens.

OP posts:
Charliefox · 26/10/2012 12:52

Hi all. I too have FPB. This year, I embarked on a skincare programme for hyper pigmentation on my face. I only treated my forehead. Product range is called Obagi but it involves the use of Tretinoin cream. It's a pretty harsh product and is prescription only. However, after a bout 2 months of use, I started to notice tiny new hairs coming through at my temples. Thought I was imagining it at first but when I consulted Dr Google, it does indeed appear like there's a link www.livestrong.com/article/182067-tretinoin-for-hair-loss/

Sheila · 26/10/2012 16:07

Coffee - I had blood tests done by my GP and sent them to PK. My low oestrogen and raised FSH indicated it could be a hormonal problem, but she ( the PK lady)said she was concerned about my ferritin levels, which were 20. She recommended Ferrograd C for 6 months to get my iron levels up.

I will do this but I'm not convinced this is my problem - I have a history of anaemia and have had a luxuriant head of hair with far lower iron levels.

Sheila · 26/10/2012 16:10

Also if my problem was iron I'd be losing hair all over my head, not just on the top

Original poster
coffeecake · 26/10/2012 18:03

Yes Sheila but don't forget that you could be affected by low iron levels differently at different points in your life.
Although I see your point about the location of the loss.
Mine has thinned all over, even underneath, and most people don't believe me when I tell them about my thinning which is even more frustrating, so I've stopped telling them.
Is 20 a low result for ferritin levels then? I'm asking because I will have mine checked soon.
Do you get that tingling scalp thing at all? It's like a kind of slight burning/tingling at different areas of the scalp. Sometimes just my ears burn and tingle which is so weird.
I think that's associated with hair loss too, I've read that somewhere. I seem to get it more when stressed (like if I'm trying to look for a place while driving and I don't know where I'm going, or if I'm having an argument with DH, or even when I'm thinking about something unpleasant [like hairloss Wink).
How about Medal, I wonder how she is getting on?

OP posts:
heroutdoors · 26/10/2012 18:42

mrspinot could you please let me know where I can buy the Wella Serum you mentioned?
Also charlie , very interesting what you mentioned about Retin-A.

pepitoincognito · 26/10/2012 21:45

hi all,
I have been to the dermatologist who was a very patient male doctor who asked lots of questions then had a look at my scalp and said - yes, you are definitely losing too much hair. (I knew that but so glad he didnt brush me off) I still have plenty enough hair to comb over the parts that are thin or bald but the front is really thinning dramatically and I'm worried. They took a blood sample and told me to come back for a hair test. I have to go without washing my hair for 5 days. I normally wash it every other day so that is going to be difficult as I am travelling for work. As such I can't go for the hair test until 12 Nov. Maybe I will get my blood results back before that. I have told DH that I will shave my head if he gets too bad. He looked alarmed.

Original poster
coffeecake · 26/10/2012 22:40

Pepito are you seriously thinking of shaving your head?

OP posts:
pepitoincognito · 26/10/2012 23:47

coffee, not yet, but if I get to point where I am worried about my combed over hair slipping out of place, or if the person I'm talking to is looking at my increasingly visible scalp - then what's the point? the anxiety of it is the worst.

pepitoincognito · 26/10/2012 23:49

oh that's what i wanted to say earlier, i felt a bit bad telling the doctor about my hair loss as the poor bloke was bald. thats the only thing that made me smile today. at least he understands sort of.

Original poster
coffeecake · 27/10/2012 11:27

Yes you're right, for me the anxiety is the worst too. If I could live with it it woud be so much easier.
Poor guy (the doc), but at least he's a man. When I was talking to my doc she had a full head of hair (at 50 ish). It made me depressed as I'm only 36 Sad
By the way how old are you all? It might be interesting to see the different age ranges.

OP posts:
pepitoincognito · 27/10/2012 14:21

I'm 34 (and a half.) And about to go out and buy some head wrap type scarves in anticipation of my 5 days no hair washing.

Conflugenglugen · 27/10/2012 14:40

Sheila - I noticed definite regrowth after about 6 months, and the consultant at PK showed me all the new growth a few months ago. I cannot see my scalp nearly as much, and my exDH confirmed it has definitely thickened - he was the one who told me how thin it had become. (That's not why we divorced, btw!)

I had all kinds of blood tests, and my ferritin levels were normal, as were my hormones, and the hairloss followed the fpb pattern, so that was definitely it.